Closing arguments made at Isiah trial

The Associated Press

Friday

Sep 28, 2007 at 2:00 AM

New York — The owner of the Knicks dismissed a top female executive solely in retaliation for accusing famed head coach Isiah Thomas of boorish and bizarre behavior, a lawyer said yesterday in closing arguments at a sexual harassment trial.

New York — The owner of the Knicks dismissed a top female executive solely in retaliation for accusing famed head coach Isiah Thomas of boorish and bizarre behavior, a lawyer said yesterday in closing arguments at a sexual harassment trial.

Madison Square Garden "completely fabricated its reasons for firing" Anucha Browne Sanders, the plaintiff in the $10 million lawsuit, said her lawyer, Anne Vladeck.

Vladeck told a jury of five women and three men that MSG and its chief executive, James Dolan, should be forced to pay punitive damages because money "is the language the defendants understand."

At the trial in Manhattan federal court, Browne Sanders leveled accusations — denied by Thomas — that he routinely addressed her as "bitch" and "ho" during private meetings. Such conduct "may be OK at the Garden, but it's not OK under the law," Vladeck said.

In their closing arguments, defense lawyers argued that Browne Sanders was doomed by her own failure to adapt to an organizational shake-up that began with Thomas' hiring in 2004. A series of clashes with Thomas and star guard Stephon Marbury, poor job performance and personal financial woes put her in a precarious position that prompted her to make false claims, said MSG lawyer Ronald Green.

"That's not about sexual harassment," he said. "That's about team politics."

Thomas' lawyer argued that Browne Sanders defied logic by testifying that the once-abusive coach did an abrupt about-face, declaring his love for her and suggesting a liaison "off site."

"Interesting term — 'off site,'" said the lawyer, Kathleen Bogas. "Not particularly romantic. One would expect, 'Let's have dinner.' 'Let's have lunch.' 'Let's have a drink together.' But 'Let's go off site'?"

The defense also argued that extensive testimony about Marbury's admitted tryst with an MSG intern — meant to demonstrate an environment of harassment — really was a side show.

"What does that have to do with Isiah Thomas? Nothing," Bogas said.

The jury was expected to begin deliberations today.

Forward Renaldo Balkman will miss at least four weeks because of a stress reaction in his right ankle, leaving the Knicks without a key reserve just days before the start of training camp.

An MRI exam performed this week also revealed a small cartilage injury in the ankle, the team announced yesterday. Balkman will be fitted for a walking boot and will be re-evaluated after resting for four weeks.

The Knicks begin camp next Tuesday and opens the regular season on Nov. 2 at Cleveland. Injuries helped ruin the Knicks' playoff hopes last season, as Jamal Crawford, David Lee and Quentin Richardson all missed significant time late in the season.

A surprising first-round pick out of South Carolina in the 2006 draft, Balkman averaged 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds as a rookie. He played well on the Knicks' unbeaten summer-league team in July, averaging 13.2 points.

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